Convention season is quickly approaching, and if you have anything to do with comics, you’ll probably be attending at least one. If you’re trying to make it in this business, you’ll probably be attending with the hopes of meeting the right people and making a good impression on them. But let’s be frank: Some of us that are into comics aren’t exactly what you’d call socialites. We started reading comics for a reason, after all.

But unfair stereotypes aside, let’s assume that you can dress yourself and have a basic understanding of hygiene. Great! You’re ready to go to the Convention. Now read on to learn how to make it worth that hefty entrance fee AND your time.

Most of the following guidelines are directed towards those people who are artists and writers looking to get published in the Independent circuit. I don’t know anything about how to get a job inking Spiderman, but I’m sure several guides are out there. Also, independent companies who are tabling at the conventions will probably find some helpful information as well.

Take your portfolio to a portfolio review (or leave it in the car)!

First and foremost, before you even walk into the convention center, you HAVE to have a comic done. While it doesn’t have to be your Mona Lisa, it has to be something you’re proud of. It doesn’t have to be a 24 page comic, it doesn’t have to be professionally printed, it just has to be DONE. Your colleagues and the publishers don’t want to see something that’s half done, rough pencils, or your portfolio. That’s not to say that they won’t look at it and say something nice. If you’re lucky, they may even give you some constructive criticism. But it’s doubtful they’re going to give you a job or a book deal.

If you’re a writer, leave your script at home, too. Make friends with an artist and get them to draw something. (See Tod’s “How to Break Into Mini-Comics” for some great advice on this matter.) Of course you have artist friends, because you are a comic enthusiast and have no doubt surrounded yourself with other comic enthusiasts. One of them is sitting at home right now, wishing they had a writer to give them something to draw.

Personally, I also like to see something that’s current. If you show me something you did in High School, and I can tell that you have been to at least one reunion since, I’m going to wonder what you’ve been doing since then.

The bottom line is that publishers and comic book companies want to see that you have the initiative to follow through with a project. This is going to show them that you are a professional.

You ARE a Professional, Right?

Let’s take a minute to talk about being professional. Everything you do or say is part of the ever-important first impression you’re about to make, so let’s make it count. Professional companies have a Marketing Department – but since you’re the C.E.O., the treasurer, the secretary and probably the investor in your project, that means you’re the marketing department, too. Put down that Community College class schedule, here’s Marketing for Comic Books 101 (in 5 easy steps.)

1. Choose an effective and memorable name that gives an idea of the comics you create and doesn’t include any controversial words. This goes for your comic book title AND your company name.

Chances are, you’re past this step already. You already have a name, a logo (you knew THAT much about marketing) and a website. Here’s hoping that it’s not www.zombiemonkeysfromhell.com, because these names A.) Tell me very little about your comics, and B.) tend to get mixed up with all of the OTHER companies that put zombies or monkeys in their names.

Since I didn’t come up with it, (Tod did, or if you want to be technical, Mister David Bowie did) I can brag about what an awesome name “Young American Comics” is: It has the word Comics in it, and is fairly descriptive of what we do. We also get a lot of traffic from people googling “American comics” which is always a plus. But most importantly, it sounds very professional, rolls off of the tongue and is fairly easy to remember.

When you’re visiting people at the conventions, you want them to remember you by time they get home. When you factor in all of the white noise, the thousands of people that THEY see, and the general exhaustion that comes with any comic convention, you don’t want them to get home and think, “Now, um.. what was it? www.hellishmonkeyeatingzombies.com??

2. Come up with a one or two sentence description of your company and/or each of your books and memorize it.

“Young American Comics is a small independent comic book publisher. We do a lot of experimental and group projects as well as punk rock autobiographical comics and superhero parodies.”

This doesn’t mention everything we do, but it is short enough for us to memorize and reinforces enough points that we can grab most people when they come up to the table. This also applies for comic books:

“The Mighty Offenders is an off-beat superhero parody about four guys who work at the mall during the day and have really lame super powers at night.”

“Snakepit is a daily autobiographical comic about a punk rock guy who lives in Austin, Texas.”

The beauty of these sentences is that you can easily and quickly gauge someone’s opinion of the book and see if you captured their interest or not. If they are interested,, they’ll probably take a look at the book or ask you a question about it. If not, you can move on, or tell them about something else.

3. Choose a hand full of people to talk to at the con, and know who you’re talking to.

When we’re at the cons, the people who really grab my attention are not the ones who are walking to each table, clumsily handing each person a business card, regardless of whether the person at the table is a comic publisher, a creator or a guy selling bootleg DVD’s.

However, if someone comes up to the table, knows who we are, buys something and then gives me their information, I’m going to be much more interested in them. I know that they know what we’re about, and have personally sought us out. Already I feel like I have something in common with this person, and am much more likely to look at what they’re giving me.

Most comic conventions put their guest list on their web page, so take a peek beforehand, and pick out a few that you think would really like your stuff. Visit their websites and see what’s going on with them before the con. When you arrive, pick up one of the new books (come on, spend $2.00! It’s a business expense!) and mention something you’ve read on their web site.

Although different publishers and creators have different policies on trading books, “You want to trade?” should never be the first words out of your mouth, especially if you’re trying to make professional contacts. Even if your intentions are good, it just looks like you’re trying to score free stuff. They may offer to hook you up once you give them your book, but don’t ASK for a trade. Remember, we’re trying to be professional.

THEN you can tell them about your stuff.

4. Leave them with something to remember you by. If that is a business card, spend a little money and get good ones! No more printing them at home!

You absolutely have to give them something. First of all, it should be your book. Be prepared to give a few away to free. You’re only targeting a few favorite publishers, remember, so it’s not going to break the bank. Have several titles under your belt? Pick a favorite, or the one that thinks shows off your talents the best. Or pull the “I’m totally assuming you’ve already heard of me” trick and offer them “the NEW ISSUE of Evil Weasel Robots.”

Next, if you talk with them about business at all, offer a business card.

GET YOUR BUSINESS CARDS PROFESSIONALLY PRINTED SOMEWHERE. YES YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM. DO NOT PRINT THEM ON YOUR INK JET PRINTER, AND CERTAINLY DO NOT GIVE OUT PHOTOCOPIED STRIPS OF YOUR WEB ADDRESS.

This will most likely be how this person remembers you, and you want to look professional. So you have to get them professionally printed.

If you are a comic book company, your card might look something like this:

Click here for the full sized image.

If you are a comic book creator, your card might look more like this:

Click here for the full sized image.

You’re bound to have some artistic or design sense, so make yours you. They don’t have to LOOK just like these, as long as you stick to the basics. It’s important to have all of this information, and that the card, well, looks like a business card.

Outside of business cards, why not make a lasting impression by giving them something to remember you by? Shameless self-promotion aside, one inch buttons work particularly well for this and you can get 100 of the little suckers for $25.

5. Follow up.

Just like in the dating world, if you had a good meeting with someone, you have to follow up. Some time during the next week, drop the person you talked to a quick email, telling them that you enjoyed talking to them, and that you enjoyed the book that you bought from them.

Follow these simple guidelines and you will be regarded as a professional in the industry, even if your comic is the first one you’ve ever made. Remember, first impressions are important, so make yours count. And don’t forget to smile!